Blow for Brown as Purnell resigns

Gordon Brown is facing a fight for his political life after James Purnell quit the Cabinet and urged him to stand down as Prime Minister for the good of the Labour Party.

Mr Purnell announced his departure in an open letter published in the media as polls closed in crucial council and European elections.

As he became the fifth minister to resign in three days, the leading Blairite plunged the Government deeper into crisis by saying that Mr Brown's removal was needed to give Labour "a fighting chance" of victory at the general election.

In the most open Labour attack yet on Mr Brown's premiership, Mr Purnell wrote: "I now believe that your continued leadership makes a Conservative victory more, not less, likely. That would be disastrous for our country...

"We need to show that we are prepared to fight to be a credible Government and have the courage to offer an alternative future. I am therefore calling on you to stand aside to give our Party a fighting chance of winning. As such, I am resigning from Government."

Conservatives demanded an immediate general election. David Cameron said the Government was "falling apart in front of our eyes".

In a statement, Downing Street said Mr Brown was "disappointed" by Mr Purnell's decision but was giving his "undivided attention" to the big challenges facing the country: "How we guide the economy through the downturn and strengthen it for the future; how we push ahead with reform of, and investment in, our public services; and how we renew trust in our democracy and Parliament."

Number 10 confirmed that the Prime Minister would be "restructuring the Government" over the coming days, fuelling expectations that a make-or-break reshuffle of the Cabinet will begin on Friday.

Mr Purnell's departure leaves him with three empty seats at the Cabinet table, following the resignations of Home Secretary Jacqui Smith and Communities Secretary Hazel Blears.

Mr Brown's future could depend on whether that reshuffle is accomplished without further high-profile resignations, as well as on the results of elections in which Labour is expected to be given a mauling by voters.